This Morning with Dr. Steele

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Vitamin K2 favored by Dr. Chris Steele

Dr Steele was stunned to discover he is suffering from advanced heart disease after volunteering to undergo tests from a scanner which produces 3D images of the heart. He has decided to go public on his experiences to help other potential victims of this silent disease. He discussed his recent medical and emotional journey with This Morning presenters Fern Britton and Philip Schofield on February 27. In this interview Dr. Steele also mentioned that he uses vitamin K2:

"In fact there is a product here - MenaQ7 - that I am taking which is a type of Vitamin K (Vitamin K2) that stops the progression of calcium in the arteries (that's what I had) but also may reverse calcium deposition too."

The Daily Mail

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Special K

"What if there was a drug that not only reduced the risk of heart disease, but also protected against osteoporosis, reversed the effects of hardened arteries, fought off cancer, and reduced the risk of Alzheimer's?"

This is the intoduction of a great article about vitamin K2 in the Daily Mail. If you want to read the whole article please click here.

The Times: Can Vitamin K help to fight osteoporosis?

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The article written by Dr. Thomas Stuttaford explains why vitamin K is benefitial for woman with osteoporosis.

"There are two types of vitamin K: K1 and K2. Vitamin K has a role in the creation of blood coagulation factors in the liver, it plays an important part in adolescent and adult bone structure by activating the protein osteocalcin that helps the body to utilise calcium, and it is involved in the action of GLA protein in the creation of blood vessel walls in vascular health. Vitamin K may therefore help to provide protection against coronary arterial disease in older people.”

The natural sources of vitamin K are green leafy vegetables. Abnormally high intakes of vitamin A and E in some antibiotics may reduce the levels of vitamin K. One of the best supplements of vitamin K is menaquinone 7, which is derived from the Japanese breakfast food Natto: the richest known source of vitamin K2 is sold as MenaQ7.

Claire Sweeney

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Actress Claire Sweeney says in The Times:

"I've always been passionate about performing on stage and take extra measures to ensure my bones are healthy. As well as a calciumrich diet, I take Boots' MenaQ7. It helps the body retain calcium in the bones to keep them strong."

Dr. Cees Vermeer - Vitamin K2 promotes Cardiovascular Health

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Cees Vermeer`s scientific update on Vitamin K2

In a recent review of five major studies, a direct inverse relationship was found between vitamin K2 intake and both cardiovascular disease and mortality. These effects were notably lacking in examinations of K1. The potential of treating and preventing cardiovascular disease with K2 is exciting - as it has no harmful effects and intake can be easily increased without major dietary changes.

New heart health patents for vitamin K2

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NattoPharma ASA, the Norwegian supplier of Vitamin K2 (trade marked as MenaQ7) has successfully defended two of its European patent applications relating to new uses of vitamin K in treating or preventing cardiovascular diseases before the European Patent Office. The grant of these patents is expected to be published in the first half of 2011.

The first patent application, EP 06076172.3, discloses and claims the use of vitamin K in medicaments or food supplements for reversing calcification of blood vessels.

The second patent application, EP 03790959.5, discloses and claims the use of vitamin K in medicaments or food supplements for preventing age-related stiffening of arteries, not associated with atherosclerosis.

Two major epidemiological studies - with over 21,000 people - showed that taking Vitamin K2, in the form of menaquinone-7, will significantly reduce the risk of developing or dying from cardiovascular disease.

The Rotterdam Study (an analysis of around 5000 individuals) showed a strong link between long-term intake of vitamin K2 (menaquinone-7) and a reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). The findings of the study suggested the relative risk of mortality from CHD was reduced where dietary intake of menaquinone-7 was higher.

In the Prospect-EPIC cohort, consisting of 16,057 postmenopausal women, researchers observed an inverse association between vitamin K2 and risk of CHD. Increased intakes of vitamin K2, but not vitamin K1, may decrease the risk of coronary heart disease in women, says this study. For every 10 microgram increase in the amount of vitamin K2 consumed, researchers from the Netherlands report a 9 per cent reduction in the risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD). This association was mainly due to vitamin K2 subtypes MK-7, MK-8 and MK-9. Vitamin K1 intake was not significantly related to CHD.